Roger and Jill Guard just before they left for Europe. Photo: Supplied

He was dapperly dressed as Fred Astaire and the pair, while then only friends, made a fetching couple in what looked like a wedding photo. As it turned out six years later, Ms Lauschet proposed to Mr Schaaf this year and the pair were to marry in 2015.

But those plans were dashed when Ms Lauschet, 48, was killed while a passenger on Malaysia flight MH17. The mother of one, who lived with her adult son and Mr Schaaf at Stanhope Gardens, in Sydney's north-west, had been visiting her mother in her native Germany.

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She had been due to return to work on Monday as a preschool teacher at the German International School at Terrey Hills, where she was employed alongside Mr Schaaf. Staff at the school were offered counselling on Monday to help them deal with their loss. Similar support will be offered to the students when they return on Wednesday.

''We are all devastated by the loss of our dear friend and colleague,'' the school's principal, Erhard Seifert, said. ''We extend our deepest condolences to Gaby's son Tim, her fiancé´ Andreas Schaaf, her family, friends and loved ones.''

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Ms Lauschert had worked at the school since 2000. Mr Seifert said her death would be felt by students from preschool right up to year 12.

''She was very warm,'' he said. ''She was very loved by the students and the staff.''

Six NSW residents have now been identified as victims on board MH17. The Department of Foreign Affairs said 28 passengers had Australian passports while another nine permanent residents were among the 298 dead.

Paul Guard, the son of Queensland doctors Roger and Jill Guard, who died on the flight, said on Monday that he hoped the tragedy would bring an end to the fighting and bloodshed in the Ukraine.

As international attention focused on repatriation of the bodies and the treatment of the crash site in eastern Ukraine, he said his family was looking for the silver lining amid the heartache.

''We're less concerned about the time it will take to bring them home,'' Mr Guard said.

''We hope there's a positive to come from this … that those people fighting on the ground will stop, put down their weapons, come around a table and talk.

''We would prefer to see an end to these monstrous activities … We would be consoled somewhat if something positive came from this, like a ceasefire, like talks around a table.''

Jill and Roger Guard, who lived in Toowoomba, had been on holiday visiting relatives in Britain before taking a cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam where they boarded the flight.